Fire-escape.



D. I. REED.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.15, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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CDLUMBIA PLANDORAPII Co..wAsmNuTON. D, c,

D. I. REED.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLIUATION FILED 00T.15. 1912.

1,080,476, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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coLUMmA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. n. u

DEADERICK IGNON REED, QF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 15, 1912.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

serial No. 725,899.

To all whom/15 may concern.'

Be it known that I, Dnnnnn'ron I. Renn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and ,State of Tennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification. l

rIhis invention relates to improvements 1n extensible ladders and has particular application to a ladder of the class described which may be readily and conveniently used as a fire escape.

In carrying out the present invention, 1t is my purpose to provide a portable extensible ladder which will embody in its construction, among other features, a number of telescopic sections adapted to slide one within the other so that the ladder may be stored away in a small space and which may be extended when it is desired to use the ladder.

It is also my purpose to provide an extensible ladder wherein the telescopic sections may be locked in ladder formation and which may be suspended from a window sill or other convenient Support and held spaced apart from the adjacent wall of the building, when the ladder is used as a means of escape in the event of fire.

Furthermore, I aim to provide a ladder which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability coupled with cheapness of cost in manufacture and which may be readily extended and collapsed.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation showing the ladder in extended position and suspended from a window sill. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the ladder in front elevation. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. Il is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewl on the line IH/l; of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the locking devices. Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the ladder in folded position. Fig. 8 is a transverse scctional View through the ladder in folded position. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a detail of the invention.

Referring now to the accompanying d 'aw- .ings in detail, A indicates my improved ladder as an entirety comprising a number of sections l, four being' shown in the present instance. These sections are designed to slide one within the other and each is composed of side bars 2, 2 having longitlulinally extending grooves 3 formed in the confronting faces thereof adjacent to the side edges of the sections, and recesses 4t adjacent to the upper extremities of the side bars and communicating with the grooves 3, rungs 5 interconnecting the side bars of each section and are conveniently spaced apart. These rungs are fastened to the confronting faces of the side bars of the respective sections at one side of the grooves 3 in such bars so that the sections may be telescoped one within the other with ease and facility. The outer faces of the side bars of each sect-ion adjacent to the lower end of such bars are equipped with blocks (3 slidably disposed within the grooves 3, 3 of the next adjacent section7 each outer section being of greater transverse dimension than the respective section sliding therein so that a neat and com* pact article will be presented when the sections have been folded one within the other.

In order to hold the sections dislended and in ladder formation, I employ locking devices each of which in the present instance comprises a pair of dogs 7 7, the dogs of each pair being connected to each other through the medium of a crank rod S and are pi voted within the recesses l of each section. These dogs are normally disposed within the grooves 8 and in the path of movement of the blocks (l and are held in such position tln'ough the medium of a tension device such for instance as a spring 9 one end of which is fastened to the inner face of the respective side bar as at l0 while the opposite end thereof is connected with the crank portion of the crank rod S, the medial portion of the spring encircling the crank rod as at l1.

The upper section of the ladder' is equipped with a pair of hooks 12 suitably fastened to the confronting faces of the side bars of such section adjacent to the upper ends thereof, while the lower section of the ladder is equipped with a brace 13 adapted to engage the adjacent part of the wall of the building to hold the ladder spaced apart from such wall, as clearly illustrated in Fig. A

1, the brace being formed in such manner as to nicely receive the sections of the ladder when telescoped one within the other, as clearly illustrated in F ig. 7.

F rom the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction, mode of operation and manner of employing my invention will be readily apparent. Should the sections of the ladder be telescoped one within the other and it be desired to employ the ladder as a fire escape, the hooks l2 are engaged with the window sill as illustrated in Fig. l, thereby permitting the sections of the ladder to distend themselves in ladder formation. As the blocks G of each section pass the dogs 7 in the recesses l of the adjacent section, said dogs are swung about their pivots and against the action of the respective spring 9. Upon the blocks reaching their limit of movement, incident to contacting with the end walls of the respective grooves, the dogs are relieved of the influence of the blocks and return to normal position, thereby engaging the adjacent ends of the blocks and holding the sections of the ladder distended. To collapse the ladder, the crank rods S are operated to swing the dogs about their pivotal connections and against the tension of the springs thereby permitting the sections to slide or telescope one within the other.

It will be seen that I have provided an .eXtensible ladder which may be readily distended and collapsed and wherein the sections are securely locked against relative movement in the distended positions thereof.

I claim:

A telescoping ladder comprising a plura-lty of sections adapted to slide one within the other and each composed of side bars having longitudinal grooves in the confronting faces thereof and recesses each formed in one wall of one of the grooves and opening thereinto adjacent to the upper end thereof, rungs interconnecting said bars, blocks on the outer sides of said side bars of each sliding section adjacent to the lower ends thereof and disposed within the grooves in the next adjacent section, and dogs disposed within the recesses and normally lying within the grooves in the path of movement of the respective blocks whereby the sections may be locked in ladder formation.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. Y

DEADERICK IGNON REED. lVitnesses (I. ARTHUR ATCHLEY, J. FRED BIBB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

